The fire started when workers renovating a guestroom were soldering pipes, he said. The soldering tool sparked and started the fire, which quickly spread to the ceiling and roof of the one-story motel.

By the time firefighters arrived, the fire had spread to a few adjacent rooms via the roof. Mobley said firefighters tore off the roof and ceiling of a room in the path of the flames to stop the fire's progress. Firefighters from his department, and from Lake Zurich, Waukegan, Gurnee and Libertyville, had the fire under control about an hour after the call was received.

Mobley didn't know how many people were staying at the motel when the fire started, but he said everyone was out by the time firetrucks arrived.